The small volunteer group argues it is helping US Border Patrol to deal with a surge in migrants crossing America’s southern border, but their actions – caught on camera – earned widespread condemnation from civil rights groups and local officials.

The FBI were apparently first made aware of the group United Constitutional Patriots in 2017.

According to an affidavit by Special Agent David Gabriel, the FBI received information in 2017 that the Patriots, based out of Mr Hopkins’ residence, had about 20 members and was armed with AK-47 rifles, among other firearms.

“Hopkins also allegedly made the statement that the United Constitutional Patriots were training to assassinate George Soros, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, because of these individuals’ support of Antifa [a left-wing group],” Mr Gabriel said.

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But Mr O’Connell questioned why it had taken some two years to charge his client. He pointed out that the FBI had searched Mr Hopkins’ residence in 2017, and discovered weapons that Mr Hopkins said were owned by his wife, but did not arrest him at that point.

“If it was that outrageous of a crime, why not lock him up right then?” he said.